Chuck R.
Member
Agree..Actually, no. The discussion is about real world advantages of ultra-high BC bullets in hunting situations at typical hunting ranges. You insist that a very slight advantage on paper is meaningful: it isn't. And you're talking to a bunch of us old enough to know this. A $1001 is more than $1000, but the difference won't buy cup of coffee.
IF this article is accurate:
What Kill Shot Statistics Teach You About Hunting
The author compiled data on calibers, shot distances, bullet weights, scope magnification and more on 56 trophy big game animals, whitetails to buffalo. Here's what we learned
realtree.com
Even though it should by now be clear, I lumped the data for all 56 of these big game trophies together and then added the data for eight more scattered through my home. Ultimately, the data represented hunts in five countries and 11 states. (It's worth noting that in every data set, only animals sent to the taxidermist were included. This eliminated many kills that most hunters would not consider a trophy.) The overall averages were, as we've now learned from experience, predictable:
Overall Averages
- Average Caliber: .30
- Average Bullet Weight: 159 grains
- Average Muzzle Velocity: 2689 fps
- Average Shot Distance: 143 yards
- Average Riflescope Magnification: 6X
Then yea, the delta in a high BC bullet VS a standard BC (even a round nose??) plays no significant role.. I've seen multiple surveys conducted on gun forums that indicate about the same thing, the average shot on big game in this country is under 200yds.
Luckily, we don't have to guess at the impact or delta, everyone on the net has access to ballistic software. Just as a test, I ran some numbers in Strelok using a fictional 30-06 with 180grn spitzers and 180 grn round nose, both loads at 2750FPS, sighted in for 200yds with a 10MPH cross wind.
Sierra 180 RN, MPBR on 6" tgt is 259 yds.
Distance, yards | Bullet speed, f/s | Energy, ft-lbf | Elevation, inch | Windage, inch |
50.0 | 2567.4 | 2634 | D0.5 | L0.3 |
75.0 | 2484.4 | 2467 | D1.2 | L0.7 |
100.0 | 2405.4 | 2312 | D1.6 | L1.3 |
125.0 | 2329.5 | 2169 | D1.7 | L2.1 |
150.0 | 2256.3 | 2035 | D1.3 | L3.1 |
175.0 | 2185.7 | 1909 | D0.5 | L4.2 |
200.0 | 2120.4 | 1797 | U0.7 | L5.6 |
225.0 | 2054.5 | 1687 | U2.4 | L7.1 |
250.0 | 1990.7 | 1584 | U4.7 | L8.9 |
275.0 | 1929.1 | 1487 | U7.5 | L10.9 |
300.0 | 1869.5 | 1397 | U10.8 | L13.2 |
325.0 | 1811.9 | 1312 | U14.8 | L15.6 |
350.0 | 1756.3 | 1233 | U19.5 | L18.4 |
375.0 | 1704.9 | 1162 | U24.6 | L21.2 |
400.0 | 1653.0 | 1092 | U30.7 | L24.5 |
180grn Silver BT, MPBR on 6" TGT 281yds
Distance, yards | Bullet speed, f/s | Energy, ft-lbf | Elevation, inch | Windage, inch |
50.0 | 2656.6 | 2821 | D0.3 | L0.1 |
75.0 | 2610.7 | 2724 | D0.9 | L0.3 |
100.0 | 2565.2 | 2630 | D1.3 | L0.6 |
125.0 | 2520.2 | 2538 | D1.3 | L1.0 |
150.0 | 2475.6 | 2449 | D1.0 | L1.5 |
175.0 | 2431.5 | 2363 | D0.3 | L2.1 |
200.0 | 2389.7 | 2282 | U0.7 | L2.8 |
225.0 | 2346.4 | 2201 | U2.1 | L3.6 |
250.0 | 2303.6 | 2121 | U3.9 | L4.5 |
275.0 | 2261.2 | 2044 | U6.2 | L5.6 |
300.0 | 2219.3 | 1968 | U8.8 | L6.7 |
325.0 | 2177.8 | 1896 | U11.9 | L8.0 |
350.0 | 2136.7 | 1825 | U15.4 | L9.4 |
375.0 | 2097.8 | 1759 | U19.3 | L10.9 |
400.0 | 2057.5 | 1692 |
So IF the average shot distance is 200yds a whopping 3" delta in wind, still well within a whitetail kill zone.
Just for comparison I ran the numbers for a .308 190grn ABLR at 2700 FPS. MPBR is 281yds on 6" zone:
Distance, yards | Bullet speed, f/s | Energy, ft-lbf | Elevation, inch | Windage, inch |
50.0 | 2621.5 | 2899 | D0.3 | L0.1 |
75.0 | 2582.7 | 2814 | D1.0 | L0.3 |
100.0 | 2544.3 | 2731 | D1.3 | L0.5 |
125.0 | 2506.2 | 2650 | D1.3 | L0.9 |
150.0 | 2468.5 | 2571 | D0.9 | L1.3 |
175.0 | 2431.0 | 2493 | D0.3 | L1.8 |
200.0 | 2395.5 | 2421 | U0.8 | L2.4 |
225.0 | 2358.7 | 2347 | U2.2 | L3.1 |
250.0 | 2322.2 | 2275 | U4.0 | L3.9 |
275.0 | 2286.0 | 2205 | U6.2 | L4.8 |
300.0 | 2250.2 | 2136 | U8.9 | L5.8 |
325.0 | 2214.6 | 2069 | U11.9 | L6.9 |
350.0 | 2179.3 | 2004 | U15.4 | L8.1 |
375.0 | 2145.9 | 1943 | U19.3 | L9.4 |
400.0 | 2111.3 | 1881 | U23.7 | L10.8 |
At 200 yds:
190 ABLR: U0.8 L2.4
180 CT BT: U0.7 L2.8
180 Sierra RN: U0.7 L5.6
300yds:
190 ABLR: U8.9 L5.8
180 CT BT: U8.8 L6.7
180 Sierra RN: U10.8 L13.2
The MPBRs:
180RN: 259
180 CTBT: 281
190 ABLR: 281
So without taking wind into effect, the higher BC bullets gain about 22yds in MPBR against the RN.